Hook pleat drapery system

ABSTRACT

A simulated cafe drapery system in which draperies are supported by hooks from sliders carried by a track. The track has two longitudinally extending grooves, one carrying the master slides and the other carrying individual hook slides. A hook slide is interconnected mechanically with each master slide so that they move together. The track end fitting serves to support and house traverse cord pulleys and has a finial mounted thereon.

United States Patent Baker, Sr.

[ BOOK PLEAT DRAPERY SYSTEM [75] Inventor: George H. Baker, Sr., Dunlap, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Baker Drapery Corporation, Peoria,

22 Filed: June 14, 1971 21 Appl.No.: 152,571

[52] US. Cl. 160/345 [51] Int. Cl A47h 5/032 [58] Field of Search 160/344, 345, 346,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,151,666 10/1964 Ford 160/346 3,173,169 3/1965 George 160/330 X 11 3,738,414 June 12, 1973 3,203,469 8/1965 Falkenberg .1 160/330 X 3,273,197 9/1966 Ford 160/345 X 3,470,578 10/1969 Graber et a1 160/345 X Primary Examiner-David J. Williamowsky Assistant ExaminerPhilip C. Kannan Att0rney-Axel A. Hofgren, Ernest A. Wegner, William .1. Stellman et al.

[ 5 7] ABSTRACT A simulated cafe drapery system in which draperies are supported by hooks from sliders carried by a track. The track has two longitudinally extending grooves, one carrying the master slides and the other carrying individual hook slides. A hook slide is interconnected mechanically with each master slide so that they move together. The track end fitting serves to support and house traverse cord pulleys and has a finial mounted thereon.

4 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures mrcmww 3.738.414

sum 1 or 4 FIG.3 2 H64 27 INVENTOR I GEORGE H. BAKER 5R.

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' ATTORNEYS PATENTEB JUN I 21973 SHEEI 3 [1F 4 1 HOOK PLEAT DRAPERY SYSTEM This invention is concerned with a drapery system.

In my copending patent application, Ser. No. 152,879, filed June 14, 1971, I have disclosed and claimed a drapery traverse track having separate longitudinal passages for the drapery carriers and the traverse cord, with a groove on the rear wall for the master slide and a groove along the bottom wall for the drapery carriers. The system disclosed in such an application utilizes the hinged carriers of my U.S. Pat. No. 3,296,651. This invention is concerned with a system for hanging pleated draperies with hooks from the track of the prior application, with simulated cafe rings and having a novel finial mounting.

Ford US. Pat. No. 3,] 19,442 is an example ofa prior traverse drapery system with simulated cafe rings, using, however, a different style of track.

One feature of the invention is the provision in a hook pleat drapery system utilizing a track with first and second longitudinally extending grooves, of a master slide in one groove, a pull cord extending through the track and connected with the master slide and a plurality of drapery hook supporting slides in the second groove, one having a surface which is interlocked with a surface of the master slide for movement therewith. More particularly, the track is generally rectangular with the first groove in the rear wall and the second groove in the bottom wall and the interlocking surfaces of the slides include a forwardly facing slot on the master slide and a rearwardly extending web on the individual drapery hook supporting slide, received in the slot.

Another feature is that the drapery hook supporting slides have shoulders extending axially of the track each shoulder engaging the shoulder of an adjacent slide to establish a slide-to-slide spacing when the drapery hook supporting slides are retracted.

A further feature is that the drapery system includes a track, a track end fitting having front and rear side walls and an end wall and a finial having an end mounting portion secured to the side walls of the fitting and extending therefrom generally axially of the track. Preferably the finial is a three-sided molding, open on the rear, and a plate is provided which engages the finial and is secured to the rear wall of the end fitting.

Still another feature is that the end fitting has an open top and a bottom wall and the end-mounting portion of the finial has a top wall with a depending post extending to the bottom wall of the track end fitting. A screw fastener extends upwardly through the bottom wall of the end fitting into the post.

Further features and advantages of the invention will readily be apparent from the following specification and from the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary broken perspective of a drapery system incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged rear view of the drapery hook supporting slide;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the hook slide with the track shown in broken lines;

FIG. 5 is a perspective of the right and left master slides assembled with hook slides;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective of the left master slide and the associated hook slide, illustrating the interconnection between them;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the left master slide and the associated hook slide mounted on the track, looking from the left of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the left master slide and associated hook slide, with a portion broken away to illustrate the interconnection between them;

FIG. 9 is an assembled perspective of the track end fitting and finial;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective thereof;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged section taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 11, with a portion broken away; and

FIG. 14 is a reduced fragmentary elevation taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 11, with a portion broken away.

The drapery system of the patent and pending application referred to above utilizes an unpleated drapery panel. The present invention makes use of the same track, mounting brackets and traverse cord system with pleated, hook supported draperies and provides simulated cafe rings.

The track, master slides, hook supporting slides and draw cords are illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8. A double draw drapery installation is shown. The track 20 carries drapery panels 21 and 22, hung from left and right (FIG. 5) master slides 23 and 24, respectively, and from individual hook support slides 25; A decorative finial 26 extends from the end of track 20 and a similar finial is, of course, provided at the opposite end (not shown). The track supporting brackets are not shown but are preferably of the character illustrated in the aforementioned copending application. The individual hook supporting slides have a decorative simulated cafe ring 27 with a portion 27a extending upwardly across the front of the track 20 anda portion 27b extending rearwardly across the top'of the track.

Track 20 is preferably an extruded metal member, as of aluminum, and is generally rectangular in cross section. It has longitudinally extending grooves 30 and 31 in the rear and bottom walls respectively, defining supporting rails for the slides. The track is divided into front and rear compartments 32 and 33, respectively, by a center wall 34. The master slides 23 and 24 are carried in the rear wall groove 30 while the individual hook supporting slides 25 are carried in bottom wall groove 31. Traverse cord 36 is located in the rear track compartment 33, isolated from the individual slides 25, and connected with master slides 23 and 24 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7.

End fittings, not illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, close the ends of the track and provide a mounting for cord supporting pulleys. One of the end fittings is shown in FIGS. 9 through 14, described below, and a complete disclosure of the traverse cord arrangement and operation is given in the copending application.

The left and right master slides 23 and 24 have a generally complementary configuration and only the left master slide 23 will be described in detail. The slide is preferably molded ofa suitable plastic material and has a generally upstanding rear portion 40 received in the groove 30 in the rear wall of the track. The upper edge of slide portion 40 has a channel 41 in which supporting rail surface 42 is received. The body of the master slide extends forwardly under track 20 and terminates in a drapery supporting arm 43 which projects forwardly under the track and to the right to overlap the corresponding drapery supporting arm 44 of the right master slide 24. The rear portion 40 of the master slide is provided with a pair of cord receiving openings 45, 46 and a cleat 47 to which the cord is secured. The drapery supporting arm of the master slide is of sufficient length to span three drapery supporting hooks as the edge of the drapery panel. The first two hooks are received in holes 43a and 43b. The third hook, commonly associated with the first pleat of the drapery panel, is received in a hole 49 of an individual hook supporting slide 50 secured to the master slide.

Individual hook supporting slides 25 are also preferably molded of plastic and have a body portion 25a provided with a pair of opposed channels 52, 53 in which supporting rail surfaces 54 and 55 of track are received. A depending tab 56 has a drapery hook supporting hole 57 therein.

The draperies are extended and retracted along the track by movement of the master slides 23 and 24. The individual slides are caused to move by the drapery.

The combination of the master slide 23 and individual hook supporting slide 50 would be difficult to mold as an integral part because of the complexity of the mold which would be required and the need to maintain dimensional tolerances between the channel 41 and the channels 52 and 53 in the individual slide 50, FIG. 7. Rather than rigidly securing two parts together, which would require an assembly operation and contribute to the channel tolerance problem, the parts are coupled together by interengaging surfaces which permit relative movement between them. Specifically, the body of the master slide has thereon a forwardly opening slot 58, adjacent the base of drapery supporting arm 43. A rearwardly extending web 59 on the individual drapery hook slide 50 is received in the slot. The two slides are free to move with respect to each other in a plane at right angles to the track 20. However, movement of master slide 23 along the track carries individual slide 50 with it. The dimensions of slot 58 and web 59 are such that the two slides can also move angularly with respect to each other to a limited extent to accommodate slight irregularities in the track and avoid bindmg.

The body 25a of the individual hook supporting slide 25 terminates in lateral surfaces or shoulders 62. When the master slide is retracted (FIG. 3), shoulders 62 of adjacent slides engage, establishing the spacing along the track between hook supporting opening 57. This spacing is sufficient that it, rather than the thickness of the drapery fabric, provides the limiting spacing factor for the retracted draperies. This insures a neat appearance of the retracted drapery.

The drapery installation illustrated in FIG. 1 is for double draw draperies. The system might be utilized in a single draw installation by eliminating one of the master slides, and providing sufficient appropriately located individual slides 25.

The mounting of finial 26 on the track end fitting is illustrated in FIGS. 9-14. End fitting 65 closes the left end of track 20. The finial and end fitting for the right end of the track (not illustrated) are mirror images.

End fitting 65 has a tongue 66 received in the end of track 20, in the upper portion of the front track compartment 32. A screw (not shown) through the boss 67 into the top wall of the track holds the fitting in place,

as explained in the prior application. Tongue 68, here shown carrying cord return roller 69, is received in the rear compartment 33 of the track. The location of the traverse cord and rollers may be, reversed from one end of the track to the other, as explained in the prior application. The end fitting body outside the track 20 has front and rear side walls 70 and 71 and an end wall 72. The bottom is closed by a wall 73. The top is open and the side and end walls terminate in an upper edge.

It is often desirable to provide decorative end pieces as the finial 26. However, it is not practical to manufacture the finial and the end fitting 65 as a single part, particularly if different finial styles are to be provided. The configuration of the finial itself is rather complex and in order to mold it economically from plastic, it is made with only three faces, front, top and bottom. The rear is open but as it is exposed only to the wall behind the track 20, the inner finial surfaces are not normally visible in a completed installation. In accordance with the invention, finial 26 is secured to end fitting 65, permitting the manufacture of the finial subassembly using the existing end fitting 65, and with a minimum of special parts and operations. It is preferable that the finial be secured to the end fitting by sonically excited heat sealing, but various adhesives and solvents may also be used depending on the material from which the fitting and finial are molded.

Finial 26 has an end mounting portion 74 with a top wall 75 and a front wall 76. The undersurface of top wall 75 has a channel 77 therein in which the upper edge of the front, rear and end walls 70-72 of the end fitting 75 are received.

The first step in securing the finial 26 to the end fitting 65 is to assemble the finial on the fitting with the front wall 76 of the end portion of the finial overlying front wall 70 of the end fitting. These two walls are then sealed together. The ribs 76a on the inner surface of wall 76 are energy directors which concentrate the sonic energy, developing sufficient heat to soften the plastic material and fuse the parts together.

A plate 80 is utilized to secure the finial to the rear wall 71 of the end fitting. Plate 80 has a pair of fingers 81 which engage surfaces 82 at the open rear of the finial. The plate 80 extends across the open rear of the end portion 74 of the finial, overlying the rear wall 71 of the end fitting 65. Ribs 83 extend inwardly between the top wall 75 and the bottom wall 84 of the finial end portion 74, maintaining the spacing between these walls. Plate 80 is sealed not only with the rear wall 71 of end fitting 65 but with the rear faces of the top and bottom wall 75, 84 of the finial end portion. Energy directing ribs 85, 86 and 87 concentrate the energy for this sealing operation.

The bottom wall 73 of end fitting 65 has a groove 90 therein. An end ring 91 is provided having a hook receiving opening 92 for the hook at the outer edge of the drapery. End ring 91 has a rib 93 which is received in groove 90, positioning the end ring with respect to the end fitting 65 and finial 26.

The finial end mounting portion 74 includes a post 95 which extends downwardly from the top wall 75 within track and fitting 65 and has a fin 96 which engages the bottom wall 73. A threaded fastener 98 extends upwardly through the lower portion of end ring 91 and groove 90 into post 95, securing the end ring, end fitting and finial together.

The end fitting and finial combination described above may be manufactured as a subassembly and mounted on the track 20 in the field. The finial does not interfere with the traverse cord, the cord rollers or prevents reversal of the operating location of the cord as described in the prior application.

I claim:

1. A hook-pleat drapery system, comprising:

an elongated, rectangular track having a generally vertical rear wall and a generally horizontal bottom wall, with a first groove extending longitudinally of the track in the rear wall and defined by vertically spaced rail surfaces and a second groove extending longitudinally of the track in the bottom wall and defined by horizontally spaced rail surfaces;

a master slide having a rear portion received in said first groove for movement along the track, said master slide having a channel in which the upper rail of the first groove is received and shoulder resting on the lower rail, the body of said master slide extending forwardly beneath said track;

a pull cord extending through said track and connected with said master slide; and

a plurality of drapery hook supporting slides in said second groove for movement along the track, each drapery hook supporting slide having a pair of opposed channels in which the horizontally spaced rail surfaces of the second groove are received, said master slide and one of the drapery hook supporting slides being interlocked for movement along the track together by complementary surfaces forwardly presented on the drapery hook slide, the complementary surfaces including a web on one of the slides and a slot on the other receiving the web, the web and the slot lying in a plane generally at right angles to the longitudinal extent of said first and second grooves, the two slides having freedom to move with respect to each other in a plane at right angles to the track to accommodate irregularities in the track without binding.

2. The hook pleat drapery system of claim 1 in which said web is loosely received in said slot, the two slides having limited angular movement to accommodate irregularities in the track without binding.

3. The hook pleat drapery system of claim 1 in which said slot faces forwardly on said master slide and said web extends rearwardly on said drapery hook supporting slide.

4. The hook pleat drapery system of claim 1 in which said drapery hook supporting slides have shoulders extending axially of said track each shoulder engaging the shoulder of an adjacent slide to establish the slide-toslide spacing when the drapery hook supporting slides are retracted. 

1. A hook-pleat drapery system, comprising: an elongated, rectangular track having a generally vertical rear wall and a generally horizontal bottom wall, with a first groove extending longitudinally of the track in the rear wall and defined by vertically spaced rail surfaces and a second groove extending longitudinally of the track in the bottom wall and defined by horizontally spaced rail surfaces; a master slide having a rear portion received in said first groove for movement along the track, said master slide having a channel in which the upper rail of the first groove is received and shoulder resting on the lower rail, the body of said master slide extending forwardly beneath said track; a pull cord extending through said track and connected with said master slide; and a plurality of Drapery hook supporting slides in said second groove for movement along the track, each drapery hook supporting slide having a pair of opposed channels in which the horizontally spaced rail surfaces of the second groove are received, said master slide and one of the drapery hook supporting slides being interlocked for movement along the track together by complementary surfaces forwardly presented on the drapery hook slide, the complementary surfaces including a web on one of the slides and a slot on the other receiving the web, the web and the slot lying in a plane generally at right angles to the longitudinal extent of said first and second grooves, the two slides having freedom to move with respect to each other in a plane at right angles to the track to accommodate irregularities in the track without binding.
 2. The hook pleat drapery system of claim 1 in which said web is loosely received in said slot, the two slides having limited angular movement to accommodate irregularities in the track without binding.
 3. The hook pleat drapery system of claim 1 in which said slot faces forwardly on said master slide and said web extends rearwardly on said drapery hook supporting slide.
 4. The hook pleat drapery system of claim 1 in which said drapery hook supporting slides have shoulders extending axially of said track each shoulder engaging the shoulder of an adjacent slide to establish the slide-to-slide spacing when the drapery hook supporting slides are retracted. 